By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
You are listening to a new special from am1575news, France24 and Radio Centrale Milan, in podcasting and on the medium wave.
Alert and schedule
Météo‑France has activated an orange‑level warning for storm conditions in the Alpes‑Maritimes region, valid from 13:00 until 20:00 on Thursday, August 20. The alert was issued in response to forecasts of torrential rain, intense lightning and winds up to 75 km/h, with the risk of sudden flooding and strong wind phenomena along the coast.
Emergency measures
The mayor of Nice, Eric Ciotti, immediately activated the Municipal Command Center, supported by the Metropolitan Coordination Center at the Urban Surveillance Office. In response to this alert, authorities ordered the closure, starting at noon, of all parks, public gardens and the coastal walkway that borders the famous Promenade du Paillon. The municipal bodies and the Nice Metro have mobilized their rescue teams, ready to intervene in case of emergencies related to heavy rain, landslides or wind damage.
Advice for citizens and tourists
Residents and visitors are advised to limit non‑essential travel and to constantly monitor weather updates. It is essential to avoid stopping under trees or near watercourses, to seek shelter in solid buildings and not to use basements or vehicles during the peak of storm activity. Experts also urge securing objects and structures vulnerable to wind or flood damage and to refrain from operating electrical equipment during lightning.
The alert will remain in force until 20:00, after which authorities will assess the evolution of the phenomenon for possible extensions or cancellations. In case of emergency, rescue numbers remain active and monitoring operations will continue to ensure the safety of residents and tourists along the entire Alpes‑Maritimes coast.
Rachel’s editorial – Four drops of water and all of Nice closed
I will now read you my editorial of today.
It is truly surprising how an “orange” warning for a storm can turn the splendid Riviera into a war zone for families with children. A threatening sky, four drops of water and the mayor of Nice—er, Eric Ciotti—activates a monitoring team more complicated than a rocket launch into space. I am glad the parks are closed, so the pigeons can finally enjoy the absence of impatient tourists, but really do we have to make life so dramatic for an hour of rain?
The statement explains to avoid trees, water and even the underground, but it does not mention the greatest hazard: the panic generated by the media when they cheer with an “orange alarm” louder than a running blender. What difference does “orange” make to a citizen who now has to give up his seaside jog to stay under a roof? Perhaps the real risk is wasting time scrolling Instagram and complaining about the “4 clouds” swirling over the French Riviera.
And while municipal services mobilize with the same solemnity as a Mozart concert, residents receive advice not to take badly: turn off appliances, close windows and don’t drive. It is almost a shopping list for survival in case of… light rain. Are we really in a society of the “spineless” or is it just another excuse to justify yet another emergency meeting that will end up on the next press release?
Finally, I wonder whether the climate is becoming more unpredictable or if the media have discovered a new talent for creating alarmism with the same energy as an insurance salesman on rainy days. In the meantime, we are left to observe a silent landscape, where today’s four drops of water could perhaps become the new national sport.
Koan of the day
Monaco: Master, why close all the parks for a storm that seems only a light drizzle?
Master: Because even a small whistle can make a string tremble, and we, fearful, break the whole melody.
Monaco: Then, if fear is the real storm, how can we find calm when the sky itself turns orange?
Master: Calm is an invisible umbrella that opens inside us; if it rains, it is only nature asking us not to forget to dance in the rain.
That’s all for now. From the Paris editorial office this is Rachel Costa: this is am1575news, France24 and Radio Centrale Milan.